All these stars made a remarkable contribution to the Olympics and should be proud of what they have achieved.

Famous Scots from outside the world of sport are also recognised, including actor Ewan McGregor, actress Siobhan Redmond and violinist Nicola Benedetti. And there is a richly deserved honour for Edinburgh University physicist Professor Peter Higgs.

They have all excelled in their chosen fields, but the less well-known figures getting awards represent the true spirit of the honours system.

The work done by charity fundraiser Les Hoey, volunteer Janet Campbell and lifeboat boss Colin Gardiner is vital for Scotland. These men and women represent the hundreds of people across the country who work tirelessly for their communities.

Whether it’s volunteering in a youth centre, collecting for local charities or campaigning for important causes, they are the glue that holds Scotland together.

Not all can be recognised in the New Year’s Honours List. But they all deserve our thanks.

Healthy balance

Many of us will be planning to lose a few extra pounds in the New Year.

But Scots Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson is right to raise concerns over the “miracle diets” that seem to fill women’s magazines.

We all know that the only real way to shed those extra pounds is healthy eating and plenty of exercise.

There’s nothing wrong with sensible diets that help give us a kickstart in the right direction but some diets are plain nonsense.

Others are simply dangerous, advocating the use of drastic weight-loss techniques that do more harm than good.

So in 2013, let’s resolve to be healthy and happy – rather than just skinny.